Thus, you can even take the faster trains with it (but not THSR) like the Tzu-Chiang limited express. The only disadvantage is that you will not have a reserved seat, which however is not an issue except on Saturday morning/noon and Sunday afternoon. The EasyCard also provides discounts on Taipei’s public transportation network, and likewise with the iPass on Kaohsiung’s network.
Language and Literature
Drivers are usually happy to help, but may not speak English or any other foreign language. For visitors, it may be helpful to have your hotel or accommodation host suggest some routes for you and circle your destination on a map, then show it to the bus driver to make sure you’re on the right bus. Announcements are in English, but hopefully the driver will remember to tell you when to get off in case you miss it.
Qing rule (1683–
- The island is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Taiwan Strait to the west, and the Bashi Channel to the south, which separates it from the Philippines.
- Duties of local governments include social services, education, urban planning, public construction, water management, environmental protection, transport, public safety, and more.
- Taiwan’s climate varies from tropical in the south to subtropical in the north.
- In contrast to the mountainous regions, Taiwan’s western plains, especially in the central and southern parts of the island, are home to the majority of the population and are fertile agricultural areas.
- Same-sex marriage between a mainland Chinese and a Taiwanese is also forbidden.
- Therefore, be much more careful when getting on or off a bus stopped away from a curb, as many motorcycles, motor scooters, and bicycles will definitely be tempted to overtake on the right side of the stopped bus where people get on and off!
The most popular traditional Chinese deity in Taiwan is Mazu, a Fujianese shamaness who is believed to have ascended to godhood and now protects sailors, as the Fujianese were largely a seafaring people. Most Taiwanese people follow a mix of traditional Chinese folk religions and Buddhism, and it is common to visit temples to offer prayers during important festivals or life events. That said, contemporary Taiwanese society is largely secular in daily life, and religion in general does not play a significant role in people’s work or political affiliations. Nevertheless, you are still expected to dress and behave respectfully when visiting temples. The Taiwanese are generally a warm and polite people, having been strongly influenced by Confucianism.
Political parties
If they get too close to you, picking up a stone or having a big stick is usually a sufficient deterrent. Many indigenous communities have dogs freely running around their communities. While smoking marijuana is illegal, the cannabis product cannabidiol (CBD) is legal provided you have a doctor’s prescription, and it contains no more than 10 ppm (0.001%) tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component that gives you the “high”. Foreign victims of a major crime in Taiwan are also advised to report the matter to their government’s representative office in Taipei. Like anywhere else in the world, women should be cautious when taking taxis alone late at night. Although they are generally safe, it’s a good idea to arrange to have a friend call you when you get home and to be seen making the arrangements for this by the cab driver.
Christianity, both Catholicism and Protestantism, has a presence in Taiwan, especially among the younger population. In addition, there are smaller communities of Muslims, Jews, and practitioners of other faiths. The freedom of religion is guaranteed in Taiwan’s constitution, and religious tolerance is a significant feature of the society.
If you forget to tap the second time, you will only be charged a small initial fee instead of the whole journey, but unless you are at the end of your vacation to Taiwan or possess a second card, you should avoid having your card blocked. That said, most bus drivers and railway staff pay close attention to the tapping, so it is hard to miss. Indigenous Austronesian or “Formosan” culture has greatly suffered under multiple different waves of colonial rule. It is having a resurgence today, and efforts are being made to revive the culture through the introduction of the Formosan languages into the school curriculum. However, many aspects of it have been lost forever, which is evident in how the majority of the Formosan languages are extinct or moribund.
Military exercises
- Other domestic airports include those in Taitung, Hualien, Makung (Penghu/Pescadores), Kinmen, Taichung, Nangan and Beigan.
- Most hotels and department stores accept credit and debit cards, generally Visa, MasterCard, and JCB.
- Costs in Taiwan are generally lower than in Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong, but higher than in Southeast Asia and mainland China.
- Therefore, if you look the part, it is very easy to find a school willing to take you on for at least a few days.
- When leaving Shanghai, show your Hong Kong and Macao Travel Permit to the immigration officer and declare your destination is Hong Kong.
Your best bet for halal food is restaurants or stores serving the Southeast Asian community. There are many halal certification bodies in Taiwan, but the Chinese Muslim Association certifies most halal stores; Muslim visitors can contact them for more information. In addition, the Taiwanese government provides a detailed list where one can find halal food and accommodations.
Two island groups controlled by the ROC government, Matsu and Quemoy, lie just off the coast of China’s Fujian (Fukien) province. In the East China Sea, the ROC claims the queenwin casino group of islands it calls Diaoyutai, which also are claimed by Japan as Senkaku and by the People’s Republic of China as Diaoyu. Ancestors of Taiwanese indigenous peoples settled the island around 6,000 years ago. In the 17th century, large-scale Han Chinese immigration began under Dutch colonial rule and continued under the Kingdom of Tungning, the first predominantly Han Chinese state in Taiwanese history. The island was annexed in 1683 by the Qing dynasty and ceded to the Empire of Japan in 1895.
Cities
Therefore, be much more careful when getting on or off a bus stopped away from a curb, as many motorcycles, motor scooters, and bicycles will definitely be tempted to overtake on the right side of the stopped bus where people get on and off! (As traffic drives on the right side of the road in Taiwan, buses have doors on the right side.) In Taiwan you need to hail the bus you are taking as you see it coming—much like hailing a taxi. The terminal stop of the route is listed on the front of the bus in Chinese and sometimes English, so it is important to make sure the bus you get on is going the right direction. However, local travel agencies in Taiwan and Japan can book some regular cruises between Keelung and Okinawa.
To the west is the Taiwan (Formosa) Strait, which separates Taiwan from the Chinese mainland. There are several peaks over 3,500 metres, the highest being Yu Shan at 3,952 m (12,966 ft), making Taiwan the world’s fourth-highest island. The tectonic boundary that formed these ranges is still active, and the island experiences many earthquakes. Taiwan is surrounded by water, with the Taiwan Strait separating it from mainland China, and the Pacific Ocean lying to the east. There are numerous rivers and lakes throughout the island, which are essential for both agriculture and the country’s water supply. The most significant river is the Zhuoshui River, which flows through the island’s central region and serves as an important source of water for irrigation and industry.